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Aug. Memo Focused On Attacks in U.S.
Washington Post ^ | 05/18/2002 | Bob Woodward and Dan Eggen

Posted on 05/17/2002 8:42:29 PM PDT by Pokey78

Edited on 09/03/2002 4:50:30 AM PDT by Jim Robinson. [history]

The top-secret briefing memo presented to President Bush on Aug. 6 carried the headline, "Bin Laden Determined to Strike in U.S.," and was primarily focused on recounting al Qaeda's past efforts to attack and infiltrate the United States, senior administration officials said.

The document, known as the President's Daily Briefing, underscored that Osama bin Laden and his followers hoped to "bring the fight to America," in part as retaliation for U.S. missile strikes on al Qaeda camps in Afghanistan in 1998, according to knowledgeable sources.


(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: bushknew
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1 posted on 05/17/2002 8:42:29 PM PDT by Pokey78
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To: Pokey78
Well, first off, it looks like Bush was on top of this from the start - much more so than his detractors would have thought.

I'm surprised the World Trade Center wasn't mentioned as a likely target in view of the previous attempt on it. It would seem like a fairly obvious conclusion that it would be a victim. Of course this is all 20/20 hindsight talking.

That being said, it seems to me that there were enough pieces of information around for someone to be able to figure out the puzzle. That is, if all information had been properly digested, particularly the peculiar case of the infamous flight student whose name I cannot spell, it should have been possible to realize that something of this sort was in the works.

I don't know, though, if there would have been enough evidence to prevent the terrorists from boarding the fatal flights. The links between ZM and the others were clear, but only in hindsight.

I doubt that the attacks could have been prevented, but our lack of clear information is still dismaying.

D

2 posted on 05/17/2002 8:54:35 PM PDT by daviddennis
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To: Pokey78;infowars
Oh,please, let the hearings begin!

We will then see that the entire federal government has failed America.

I want John O'Neill,but he died in WTC on 9-11.

I want his files, but their ashes blew away.

Did he have copies somewhere?

Lets get Dick Clarke.

Yes to Cofer Black.

Ah to see and hear BCCI,Bin Mahfouz,Al-Amoudi,Clinton,Rice,.......

3 posted on 05/17/2002 8:58:32 PM PDT by Betty Jo
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To: Pokey78;infowars
Oh,please, let the hearings begin!

We will then see that the entire federal government has failed America.

I want John O'Neill,but he died in WTC on 9-11.

I want his files, but their ashes blew away.

Did he have copies somewhere?

Lets get Dick Clarke.

Yes to Cofer Black.

Ah to see and hear BCCI,Bin Mahfouz,Al-Amoudi,Clinton,Rice,.......

4 posted on 05/17/2002 8:59:02 PM PDT by Betty Jo
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To: Pokey78
Must be no one passed anything on to the President.

"June 2001 - German intelligence, the BND, warns the CIA and Israel that Middle Eastern terrorists are "planning to hijack commercial aircraft to use as weapons to attack important symbols of American and Israeli culture." [Source: Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, September 14, 2001.]

A French secret service report on September 7 warned of possible attacks, and that the order to act would come from Afghanistan. Le Figaro says very precise information on targets for attack was communicated to the CIA.

Summer 2001 - An Iranian man phones U.S. law enforcement to warn of an imminent attack on the World Trade Center in the week of September 9th. German police confirm the calls but state that the U.S. Secret Service would not reveal any further information. [Source: German news agency "online.ie", September 14, 2001]

August 2001 - The FBI arrests an Islamic militant linked to Bin Laden in Boston. French intelligence sources confirm that the man is a key member of Bin Laden's network and the FBI learns that he has been taking flying lessons. At the time of his arrest the man is in possession of technical information on Boeing aircraft and flight manuals. [Source: Reuters, September 13]

Summer 2001 - Russian intelligence notifies the CIA that 25 terrorist pilots have been specifically training for suicide missions. This is reported in the Russian press and news stories are translated for FTW by a retired CIA officer."

More at link

5 posted on 05/17/2002 9:03:14 PM PDT by ET(end tyranny)
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To: ET(end tyranny)
Oh you shouldnt say those things!

So many freepers cant stand the thought that their administration is stupid,lazy,immoral,illegal and corrupt.

They insist on defending BS as long as it is REPUBLICAN BS!

6 posted on 05/17/2002 9:15:22 PM PDT by Betty Jo
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To: Betty Jo
The information that the government had was declassified in 1999 and was available at the Library of Congress website. While for you its easy to make a scape goat out of someone you didnt like in the first place, but where i come from, we call that monday morning quaterbacking.

The entire U.S. government knew the threat of airplanes used as missiles. I blame Both the bush administration AND the clinton administration. Every congressman that served since the threat was asseses in 1995. Every FBI and CIA official. And most importantly, every single AMERICAN citizen (including me) for being ignorant of the information available and not lobbying our congressmen to do something about it. We all share the blame for the 9/11 atrocities.

But for you, you might find it easier to finger point and scape goat.

7 posted on 05/17/2002 9:36:06 PM PDT by chudogg
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To: chudogg;OKCSubmariner
Since you have been here at FR for only a month, you havnt become familiar with my rants yet.

Go back and read my posts for the last two years.

You will see that I google the #$%@ out off every thing I yak about.

Think about that, and you hopefully will come to realize that I know what I am talking about.

May I suggest you search "Ramzi Yousef" "Project Bohinka" "John O'Neill" "Murad"

After reading hundreds of these hits, please get back to me and tell me if you still think that your government hasnt failed you big time!

8 posted on 05/17/2002 11:34:26 PM PDT by Betty Jo
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To: Betty Jo
Since i have only been here for a month and you are two years my senior my entire comment can be voided, please discredit everything i have said above. *(ducks)*
9 posted on 05/17/2002 11:45:08 PM PDT by chudogg
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To: daviddennis
That is, if all information had been properly digested, particularly the peculiar case of the infamous flight student whose name I cannot spell, it should have been possible to realize that something of this sort was in the works.

Ummm ... Moussaoui was arrested on Aug 16, 1991 10 days After the memo.

Facts are a bitc&.

10 posted on 05/18/2002 12:05:34 AM PDT by Mike Darancette
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To: Betty Jo
I realize that, but the problem lies with both administrations, and certainly the ABC organizations along with the FAA and airports that hadn't beefed up their security as they were urged to do a long time ago. I remember hearing a report of FNC right after 9-11, and it was admitted that increasing security would have dipped into their profits. Somehow that just figures! Even after 9-11 some airports failed miserably. Hopefully they are finally getting their acts together. There has been one suit so far filed against United Airlines for wrongful death.
11 posted on 05/18/2002 6:24:20 AM PDT by ET(end tyranny)
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To: chudogg
What does ducks mean?
12 posted on 05/18/2002 8:08:54 AM PDT by Betty Jo
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To: Mike Darancette
Thanks for the spelling update :-).

What you said would appear to reinforce my point - if someone knew about the contents of the memo and the M. arrest, the government would have pushed harder to get a search warrant of M's residence where, as you know, they eventually found all sorts of interesting stuff.

As I said, I doubt that they would have prevented the attacks, but they would have been a great deal closer.

D

13 posted on 05/18/2002 8:09:41 AM PDT by daviddennis
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To: Betty Jo
*ducks* means that i have a made a cheap shot comment, and im ducking away from a possible punch being thrown
14 posted on 05/18/2002 10:49:32 AM PDT by chudogg
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To: ET(end tyranny)
Yes, you are right.

Both administrations.

15 posted on 05/18/2002 11:29:19 AM PDT by Betty Jo
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To: chudogg
I would never hit you!

Please come back and argue with me.

Thats what makes this country great!

Long live Freedom of Speech!

Long live Freedom of the Press!

Long live Right to Assemble!

Long live Right to Petition the Government!

16 posted on 05/18/2002 11:33:52 AM PDT by Betty Jo
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To: Betty Jo
Yes, you are right. Both administrations.

You must be one of those people that believe the government is so omnipotent that it can protect you from all enemies 100% of the time. We could just do away with the 2A if that were the case.

17 posted on 05/18/2002 11:35:21 AM PDT by #3Fan
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To: chudogg
Well, I have been here almost two years longer than Betty Jo, and I think your reply was just fine.

I note that the administration put into place a terrorism task force which was working on a plan. Unfortunately, 9/11 came before it could be implemented. Post 9/11, we can all say that we should have known about this stuff. The fact of the matter is that only now are people willing to entertain the most fantastic notions about what these people can do.

Pre 9/11, a general alert would have been ignored by the general public, and mocked by Congress. You know that is the case...they were mocking general alerts even after 9/11.

I fault Jeffords as part of the cause, since his turnover of the Senate caused a whole lot of problems, including confirmation of people Bush needed. I also think that classified investigations of the CIA and FBI are necessary. I do NOT think we need a dog and pony show on television, as Betty apparently desires.

18 posted on 05/18/2002 11:43:48 AM PDT by Miss Marple
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To: Betty Jo
Dumb speech...No!

Freedom from sanity...no!

And this is from a guy who likes it on the loose--wild side...not always!

19 posted on 05/18/2002 11:46:47 AM PDT by f.Christian
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Comment #20 Removed by Moderator


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